Paper-reenforcing machine



Sept 1, 1925.

C. H. HOWARD PAPER REENFORCING MACHINE Filed Feb 14: 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l NEEN ' Sept. 1, 1925.

' 1,551,992 c. H. HOWARD PAPER REENFIORCING MACHINE Filed Feb- 14. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 I12 Vent or.

,. y WM g x I At'i orr e V Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OF FICE.

CHARLES H. HOWARD, OF SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PAPER PRODUCTS MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- cnosnrrs.

PAPER-REENFORCING MACHINE.

Application filed February 14, 1921. Serial No. 444,881.

To all r wlzom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Saugus, county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Paper-Reenforcing Machines, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to machines for reenforcing fabrics by filaments, and more particularly to machines for cutting and applying the cut filaments to a surface of the fabric to be reenforced. The filaments to which reference is' made may be of various kinds and may be either spun or unspun, but more particularly the present invention has reference to the application of cut unspun fibres to the fabric to be reenforced,

Attempts have heretofore been made to produce a reenforced paper by applying to the paper longitudinally thereof, a series of parallel strands, strings or other spun reenforcing elements, and attempts have also been made to produce a reenforced paper by applying unspun fibres to a sticky surface of a paper web. I

In making a satisfactory reenforced paper, one of the. greatest difliculties encountered is in securing reenforcement against longitudinal tear or rupture.

Reenforcement against tearing of the paper transversely is readily secured by applying to the paper, either spun or unspun reenforcing elementslongitudinally of the paper, and while such reenforcement has advantages,.'it does not materially reenforce the paper against a longitudinal tear or rupture. Attempts have also been made to solve this difficulty and strings or other form of spun fibres have been applied transversely of the paper web. The application of such transversely extending strings or reenforcing elements, however, is costly and lacks economy of production.

An important feature of the present invention therefore consists in means for re enforcing paper or other fabrics by cutting filaments into lengths and adhes1vely applying the cut filaments to a surface of the paper or fabric with the cut filaments extending at random in various directions. A paper strip or fabric thus reenforced may advantageously have applied thereto, a covering web to enclose the adhesive and the reenforcing filaments embedded therein be.- tween the two strips.

This feature of the invention may be sat-is I factorily carried out by feeding a relatively thin sheet of filaments from a source of supply to a cutter positioned adjacent the paper to be reenforced, and by operating the cutter to cut the filaments into lengths which are dropped or thrown in prom'iscuousorder on to the adhesive surface of the paper strip or fabric. The sheet of filaments may be formed of either spun or unspun fibres but preferably the latter and such cut fibres will arrange themselves in Various directions,

some will extend transversely, others longitudinally, apd others diagonally at various angles to the longitudinal direction of the strip to which they are applied. Thus the cut unspun fibres promiscuously applied to the paper or fabric, will impart increased strength t the same in all directions. To further increase the strength ofthe paper or fabric to resist longitudinal strains, the present invention further contemplates means for adhesively securing to the paper strip or fabric, a layer of filaments preferably consisting of unspun fibres of long staple, longitudinally of the strip.

When unspun fibres are employed as the cut reenforcing filaments they may be conveniently supplied in the form of rovings or slivers, in which case means are provided for forming the rovings into a sheet, and for drawing out or attenuating the fibres as they are fed towards the fibre cutting means. This is desirable that the out fibres maybe distributed more or less uniformly over the paper or fabric to be reenforced. The longitudinally extending, reenforcing fibres may likewise be supplied in the form of rovings and may be similarly converted into a relatively thin, substantially uniform sheet.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a good practical form of the invention, the details of which may be modified within the mechanism for applying cut fibres to the paper strlp.

The machine illustrated is adapted to-produce a two-ply reenforced strip of paper or fabric having the reenforcing filaments adhesively secured between the strips, but if desired, the upper strip may be omitted,

- as may also the longitudinally extending reenforcing filaments.

Any suitable supporting frame may be provided, and in the embodiment shown, the frame consists of upright end, posts and 11 connected by horizontally-extending side bars 12. Between the'spaced end posts 10 are indunted the paper or fabric supply rolls 13 and 14, the same being supported by suitable beams or spools 15 and. 16. The strip of paper or fabric 17 is preferably led from its supply roll 13 over suitable guides 18 and between a pair of rolls 19,20. The roll serves to apply an adhesive to one surface of the strip 17, and to this end the lower portion of the roll 20 rotates in an adhesive containing trough or box 21, so that as the strip 17 passes between the rolls 19 and 20 it will rotate the rolls and cause the lower roll to apply the adhesive in a well known man ner. Any suitable adhesive may be used, but hot asphaltumjis deemed preferable.

The strip 17 with the adhesive applied to its lower face may be led about the roll 22 suitably supported by the side bars 12, and

then passes in the present instance of the around the roll 25 and then substantially. half-way around the upper roll 26, in order I that slipping betweenthe rolls and paper will be prevented. The rolls 25 and 26 are preferably adjustable vertically to vary the pressure-between them by screw shafts or the like, operated by hand wheels 27 and 28. The reenforced strip may be led from the upper roll, 26 to a takeup 001 or beam 29, rotated by suitable means not shown).

If the cut reenforcing filaments are un- I spun fibres, as is preferably the case, means is desirable for feeding the unspun fibres to "the outer, in the form of a comparatively uniform sheet, that the cut fibres may be supplied in substantially 'the same quantity across the entire width of the paper strip or fabric. Satisfactorymeans to this end will now be described.

The unspun fibres may con-venientl'y be supplied in the form of rovings or slivers 30 drawn from cans or containers 31. Various types of unspun fibres may be used, but a relatively strong cheap fibre is preferable which is of sufficient length to be combed and attenuated into substantially parallel re-'- lation.. The rovings 30 may be passed through openings in the table '32 and led along theupper face of the table between the rolls 33 to the fluted feed rolls 34, 35. The fluted rolls serve to draw the rovings forward and to flatten them out into a more or less uniform sheet as indicated by a (Fig.

3), but therovings are flattened out to some extent by the rolls 33 before they reach the .feed rolls as indicated by b (Fig. 3). 7

Between the fluted rolls 34, 35 and the fibre-cutting means is located means. for

drawing out and straightening the fibres.

This means in the present instance of the invention consists of a series of traveling combs 36 suitably secured to sprocketchai-ns 37 passing about sprocket, wheels 38, 39 upon shafts 40, 41. The combs 36 are preferably moved at a higher speed than the speed at which the sheet of fibres are advancedby-the fluted rolls 34, 35, and the .upper run of the combs is positioned so that the comb teeth are drawn through the fibres. A bar 42 is preferably provided to depress the sheet of fibres into engagement with the teeth of the combs, and the fibres ass-from the combs to a pair of drawing rolls 43, 44. I From the drawing rolls 43, 44

the fibres pass over a bar 45 where they are cut by the rotatingcutter 46. The drawing rolls 43, 44 are preferably rotated at a speed sufliciently high to draw the fibres forward at a speed in excess of the speed they are advanced by the combs-36, with the result that the fibres are drawn through the ,teeth ofthe combs'and delivered to the cutter 46 in substantially parallel relation, and in a relativel uniform sheet. The cutter 46 may consist of a roller having a cutter blade .47

secured thereto.

The fibre-feeding rolls and combs may be. driven from any suitable means such as from a vertical shaft 48 extending downward from overhead driving mechanism and havmg a Worm 49'me'shing with a worm wheel 50 upon the shaft 40, and the fluted rolls 34,

35 are driven from the shaft 40, but at a slower speed by the chain 51 pa'ssing'about sprocket wheels 52, 53 secured to the shaft 40 and roll 34 respectively. The paper feeding rolls, cutter and associated rolls may be driven by a belt 54 passing about'a pulley 55 secured to the paper roll 26. A pulley 56 driven from. the roll '26 by a belt 57 is secured to the lower fibre feeding roll 44, and the upper roll 43 is driven from the roll 44 by gears 58., 59, while the cutter 46 is driven by gears 60, 61 (Fig. 2).

The rotating cutter 46 and'cooperating the fibres arecut they are pushed or kicked off the bar 45 by the rotating cutter, and

fall promiscuously upon the inclined portion. of the strip as indicated at a.

The cut fibres 0 thus applied to the strip 17 will extend at random in various directions as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The length of the cut fibres 0 will depend uponthe speed at which the "cutter is driven relative to the feed rolls 43, 44, and this may be searied as desired, by changing the gears 60, 61. The speed at which the paper strip 0 is advanced preferably is such that the cut fibres are deposited upon the paper in a thin layer having a thic ness substantially corresponding to the thic ness of the individual fibres.

As above stated, it may be desirable to further reenforce the paper strip or fabric 17 by applying thereto longitudinally-extending filaments d. Mechanism for applying such fibres under lengthwisetension will now be described. Thelongitudinal reenforcing fibres d may be combed and at-- tenuated by mechanism substantially similar to the mechanism described for combing and attenuating the cut fibres 0, and one set of attenuating mechanism may conveniently be positioned above the other as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The mechanism for applying the fibres d to the strip 17 under lengthwise tension is here shown as similar to the mechanism described and claimed in the Howard and Shar application, Serial Number 391,433, filed une 24, 1920. The unspun fibres d are conveniently supplied in the form of rovings 62 drawn from containers 63 through openings in a table 64 and are drawn along this table between the rolls 65, 66 and between the fluted feed rolls 67, 68. The rovings 62 leave the fluted rolls in substantially sheet form, and may then be led upward over a spreader bar 69, down under a depresser bar 70 and to the traveling combs 71 secured to sprocket chains and operated similar to the combs 36. The fibres d after being combed and straightened b the mechanism just mentioned, is leda ong a guide plate 72 and is delivered to the nip ,of the rolls 24 and 25 where it is applied 'to the adhesive surface of the strip 17. The strip 17 is preferably advanced at a speed considerably in excess of the speed of the combs 71 so that as the leading ends of the fibres d are applied to the strip, the trailing portions of the-fibres are drawn forward through the teeth of the combs. This attenuates the sheet of fibres and causes them to be tensioned lengthwisevertical shaft 48 by a worm 73 meshing with the worm wheel 74, and the fluted rolls 67, 68 may be driven by the sprocket chain 75 similar to the drive of the fluted vrolls 34,-

35. The flutedroll 67 may be adjusted relative to the roll 68 by suitable adjusting; -m'eans operated by the'hand wheel 76, and

provision may also be made for relatively adjusting the fluted rolls 34, 35. l

Should it be desired to apply a strip of paper or fabric over the reenforcing filaments upon the strip 17, this may be readily accomplished'by leading the strip 77 from the supply roll 14 over the guide roll 78. The strip 77 is then led to the nipple of the rolls 24, 25 when it is applied to the adhesive surface ofthe strip 17, and the twoply reenforced strip 79 passes from the upper roll 26'to the takeup roll 29.

From the foregoing description, when read in connection with the drawings, it will be seen that.paper strip or fabric ma 'be rapidly and'inexpensively reenforced oth longitudinally and transversely by the machine herein disclosed. What is claimed is 1. In a machine for reenforcing paper,

the combination of means for applying adhesive to the surface of a paper strip to be reenforced, means for cutting unspun fibres into lengths and promiscuously applyhesive to the surface of a paper strip to be reenforced, means for cutting filaments into lengths and promiscuou'sly applying the out filaments to the adhesive surface of the paper strip, means for applying filaments longitudinally of the paper strip and under lengthwise tension, and means for forcing the cut filaments and tensioned filaments into intimate engagement with the adhesive surface" of the paper.

3. In a machine for reenforcing' paper, the combination of means for feeding paper strips to. be reenforced and applying one strip to the other, means for applying adhesive to the inner surface of one of the paper strips, means for cutting filaments and promiscuously applying the out filaments between the paper strips and .means for applying filaments longitudinally of the paper strips.

4. In a machine ofthe character described, the combination of means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced, means for feeding two sheets of unspun fibres towards the fabric, means for attenuating the uns spun fibres of each sheet, means for cutting the attenuated fibres of one sheet into lengths and adhesively applying them to a surface of the fabric with the cut fibres ex tending at random in different directions, and means for adhesively applying the attenuated fibres of the other sheet to the fabric.

5. In a machine of the character described the combination of means for feeding a fabric to be reenforced, means for feeding two sheets of filaments towards the fabric, means for cutting the filament of one sheet and adhesively applying the cut filaments to a surface of the fabric with the out filaments extending in difierent directions, and means for adhesively applying the filaments of the other sheet to the surface of the fabric.

6. In a machine for reenforcing a paper strip by the application of cut reenforcing filaments thereto, the combination of paper feeding means for feeding a strip of paper having an exposed adhesive surface, means for applying reenforcing filaments to the adhesive surface of the paper strip in longitudinal relation thereto, mechanism for feeding a sheet of reenfo-rcing filaments to- Wards the adhesivesurface of the paper, a cutter adjacent the exposed adhesive surface of the paper 'for cutting the sheet of filaments into lengths as it approaches the adhesive surface of the paper and applying the cut filaments directly thereto.

7. A machine for reenforcing paper, comprising in combination, means for feeding a paper strip having adhesive applied to one face thereof, means for feeding toward the paper strip a. sheet of relatively long un-, spun fibres having the individual fibres arranged in substantially parallel relation, a cutter having a blade extending transversely of the sheet of fibres to cut the sheet at'equal intervals into short straight fibres.

of approximately uniform length, and said cutter being adapted to throw the fibres as they are out directly on the adhesivc'face-of the paper so that the individual fibres upon striking the paper Will fall at random in all directions to reenforce the paper.

8. A machine forreenfo-rcing paper, conlprising in combination, means for feeding .a pa er'stri havin adhesive a plied to a P P g P face thereof, n1eans for feeding a sheet of relatively straight and parallel unspun fibres toward the paper to be reenforced, a

cutter for severing the sheet of fibres at.

equal intervalsto'cut the fibres into shortstraight lengths andv free them from the source of supply so that the fibres are applied directly to the paper as they are cut with the individual fibres extending promiscuously in all directions to reenforce the paper, and means for forcing the out fibres into short straight filaments of approxiinately uniform length for application directly upon the adhesive face of the paper with the individual cut filaments extending promiscuously in all directions to reenforce the paper. I

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES H. HOWARD. 

